Solomon Islands Foreign Minister Peter Shanel Agovaka, middle, signing the TPNW at the UN Headquarters in New York. 24 September 2024 Photo: ICAN/Derek French
Niue - China
The prime minister of Niue says his door is always open to development funding from China.
While Dalton Tagelagi told RNZ Pacific there are no new offers on the table at the moment, the long awaited China-funded Niue Road rehabilitation project is almost complete.
Tagelagi said Niue looks to China for support as it does with other donor partners.
"We needed support to for our development aspirations. They are about to finish the roading, and once they finish the roading, they return to where they come from. So not only China, there's other support from all other diplomatic partners that we have."
Niue is a self-governing island country in free association with New Zealand.
Solomon Islands - nuclear
Solomon Islands has ratified the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) in New York this week.
The treaty prohibits nations from multiple actions including developing, testing, manufacturing, possessing, using or threatening to use nuclear weapons, or allowing nuclear weapons to be stationed on their territory.
Solomon Islands is the 11th Pacific island state to join the treaty, and had also previously voted in favour of its adoption.
The other Pacific states that have signed and ratified, or acceded to the TPNW are; Cook Islands, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Niue, Palau, Samoa, Tuvalu and Vanuatu.
Others such as Australia, Papua New Guinea and Tonga have not yet acceded to the treaty but have since expressed support for the TPNW.
Solomon Islands - burning
A 9-year-old girl has died in Solomon Islands in what police hae called a "tragic burning incident".
Police say the incident occurred after an argument between the girl's parents.
It is alleged the father poured petrol all over their home and the building caught fire.
The parents and their five-year-old son escaped with injuries but the nine-year-old girl could not escape and died.
Officers attended the scene and transported the injured to the National Referral Hospital.
The investigation is ongoing.
Bougainville - chocolate
The Bougainville Chocolate Festival is underway, after a slight delay due to a roadblock stopped visitors getting through.
New Dawn FM reports a roadblock at Waropa on the main island of the autonomous Papua New Guinea region, stopped people getting through to Arawa where the event is being held.
The festival is an opportunity for cocoa growers and local chocolate makers to show their wares.
The event, which has run for several years, will end this Friday.
Vanuatu - sight
A woman from Tanna Vanuatu who hadn't seen for four years has regained her sight after a visit by the Vila Central Hospital Ophthalmologist Medical Team.
One of the supporting nurses who accompanied the two eye doctors, from Port Vila and Santo, said emotions were high at Lenakel Hospital as the blind had their sight restored.
She told local media that for many, it truly felt like a miracle.
Eye clinic coordinator, Danstan Tate, thanked the New Zealand Fred Hollows Foundation for funding the trip.
Papua New Guinea - ministers
Two new ministers have been sworn into the PNG cabinet, filling vacancies left since the failed vote of no confidence earlier this month.
Jimi MP, Wake Goi, is now Minister for Mining; and Pomio MP, Elias Kapavore, has filled in the vacancy of Health Minister.
Elias Kapavore brings to the ministry prior experience as a health administrator.
While the immediate threat of the vote of no confidence has passed, the possibility of another, later this year or through next year, still exists.
Papua New Guinea - mine
In Papua New Guinea the Mineral Resource Authority has been commended for providing 700 million kina, about US$174 million to relocate people from the Special Mining Lease (SML) area of the Porgera gold mine.
Violent fighting in the area, earlier this month, led to at least 32 deaths, many injuries and the destruction of dozens of homes.
It also led to a suspension of activity at the mine itself.
Kandep MP Don Polye said one of the things that had to happen to ease the tensions was to remove people living illegally within the SML zone.
The Post-Courier reports he is happy priority has been given to this resettlement.
Papua New Guinea - reconciliation
A reconciliation ceremony has been held between two tribes in Papua New Guinea's Wau-Waria District in Morobe Province.
The Post-Courier reports in 2019 a fight escalated between the two biggest tribes, the Waria and Biangai, when Wau-Waria was still under Bulolo district.
The violence affected thousands of people, as well as services.
MP Marsh Narewec organised the reconciliation ceremony between the two tribes last week.
The Wau-Waria district development authority supported the reconciliation ceremony with funding of 500,000 kina, and called for no more fighting between the two tribes.
Fiji - app
A new mobile app launched by the Australian government aims to streamline visa application processes for Pacific countries.
Fiji, along with Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tonga and third country nationals from New Zealand have been chosen to trial the 'Australian Immi App'.
The app allows applicants to scan the biographic page of their passport, read their passport e-chip and capture a facial image; but they must have previously provided their biometrics at an Australian Biometrics Collection Centre and hold a valid passport.
Australian Special Envoy for the Pacific and Regional Affairs, Ewen McDonald, said this app delivers on the shared goal of improving mobility across the region.
Palau - agreement
The Peace Corps, an international service network, has signed a new memorandum of understanding with Palau.
Peace Corps director Carol Spahn said they were honored to have the opportunity to create new connections and strengthen the enduring friendships between the people of Palau and the United States.
The Corps said the agreement reflects its support for Palau's education priorities as a pathway for opportunity, and builds on the agency's longstanding partnership with Pacific Island countries.
From 1966 to 2018, more than 4400 Peace Corps volunteers worked alongside community members in Palau and the Federated States of Micronesia, as part of the agency's one-program, two-country model.